Nutrition Publications - Friedman School & HNRCA

Public Impact Initiative

Institutionalizing Advocacy, Policy Change, and Public Impact

In recent years, remarkable advances in nutrition science and policy provide unprecedented opportunities for positive change. Yet, this knowledge remains under-appreciated and under-utilized. The public, media, policymakers, and industry are deeply interested in healthy eating, but they are also often confused about optimal dietary priorities, strategies, and stakeholder networks to achieve real change. In this tumult, a trusted voice is essential to provide credible science and reliable solutions.

From its inception, our School has always focused on engagement with the real world and on making a difference. As with any academic institution, this work has historically depended on the efforts of individual faculty, staff, students, and alumni. To achieve what we wish in the world, our focus on public impact must more deeply develop into an integral part of our School’s structure. To attain this, we have assembled a transformative agenda to create and apply institutional systems and strategies for public good.